Low-body tractor trailer combination



5. B. WINN LOW BODY TRACTOR TRAILER COMBINATION June 8 1926.

Filed Nov. 24, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 8 1926.

S. B. WlNN Low BODY TRACTOR TRAILER COMBINATION Filed Nov. 24 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 N MN N mm QN m 0 mm a n ii I I m m l 2 5 Wm: m %N& N O N I June 8 1926 s. B. wmu

LOW BODY TRACTOR TRAILER COMBINATION Filed Nov; 24 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 8 1926.

s. B. WINN LOW BODY TRACTOR TRAILER COMBINATION iled ov. 24, 1 922 4 Sheets-Shet 4 Patented June 8, 1926.

1,588,394 PATENT OFFICE.

' SIDNEY B. WINN, OF LAPEER, MICITIGAN.

LOW-BODYJ rmc'ron TRAILER COMBINATION.

Application filed Nove mber My invention aiTns to provide attractor trailer combination in which the overall length of a tractor and trailer may be reduced by having a portion of the trailer extend under a portion of the tractor, for instance, an overhanging portion, seat or cab, and by locating coupling and uncoupling 'inechanism, brake mechanism, and draft rigging. and other devices under the cab the occupants of the cab can readlly control such mechanism or devices.

My invention further aims "to provide a tractor trailercombination wherein the trailer has a low body permitting of the operator of the tractor making observations in or over the body of the trailer, particularly when loading or unloadin and the low body possesses the one-step en rance and other advantages incident to placing the floor or entrance of such body in proximity to the ground. Such advantages are nu- I merous for either pleasure or commercial vehicles.

My invention further aims to furnish a trailer with ground engaging wheels and track engaging wheels in addition to the usual rear supporting wheels, the track engaging wheels being engageable with a track on a tractor to permit of the tractor raising the ground engaging wheels so that the I weight of the forward end of the,trailer may be sustained by the tractor. By using the coupling and uncoupling mechanism, brake mechanism and other devices disclosed in my companion application, filed under even date (presented herein, excepting as to specific details, inthe present disclosure, the details being more completely disclosed in the companion application, Serial No. 602,- 929.), the operator of the tractor can readily control the trailer, make exceedingly short turns, and be within speaking distance of an occupant of the trailer. This latter advantage is, im ortant when the trailers are in the form 0 coach or car bodies for holding passengers, and this latter use permits of the trailers being used as temporary stations, for instance, forsuburbanites, and.

such stations can be picked up by a tractor and hauled 'to a desired designation.

My invention further aims to provide-a tractor trailer combination whereinthe tractor, is coupled andnncoupled relative to the trailerto permit of the trailer being, 7 loaded or unloaded,while othenduties are more in detailinimy companion application. 1m-

24, 1922. Serial n'mcoaaza.

performed by the tractor. Such combinations are in use andinvolve an adjustable supporting leg .for the trailer, when not coupled to the tractor, consequently there .must be adjustment of the leg' preparatoryv to hauling the trailer or departing therefrom. My present invention obviates the necessity of any leg adjustment, and consequently there is a greater degree of safety in the operation of the tractor trailer ,combination.

My invention further aims to provide a tractor trailer combination wherein the trailer is in the form of a bus or car adapted to be coupled to the tractor with the coupled end of the bus overhanging the tractor. This is accomplished without raising the floor or disturbing the seats or seating capacity of the bus and a close couplin is effected conducive to easy control an a short {overall wheel base.

The construction entering into my invention will be hereinafter specifically described and then claimed and reference will now be had to the drawings, wherein Figure 1 .is a side elevation of the tractor trailer combination showing in full lines the trailer coupled to the tractor and in dot and dash lines the forward end of the trailer about to be released by the tractor;

Fig. 2 is a plan of thesame;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of a tractor trailer combination, partly broken away, showing another form of trailer, and

Fig. 4; is a plan of the same, with the trailer in horizontal section;

I In the drawings, the reference numeral 1 with ground engaging wheels 2, power plant 3, a superposed overhanging cab, body or seat frame 4', a seat 5 and a cab or operating compartment 6. The frames 1 and 4 cooperate in providing a pocket, chamber, or runway 7 'under' the seat or cab, and on the tractor chassis or frame 1 is a track composed of inclined rails 8 and a turn-table or platform 9. Below the turntable or 4 denotes a tractor chassis or frame provided platform 9 is adraft appliance 10 supporting a couplmg and uncoupling mechanism and part offthe brake mechanism, the coupling and uncoupling mechanism of the tractor including'a support 11, an arm ,12, aball coupling13 and a'king pifil, these and associated elements being described The trailer includes a chassis or frame 15 the brakes 19 of ,the trailer, and on the having its rear end supported by a rear tractor frame or chassis 1 is a mechanism, axle assembly 16 including ground engaggenerally designated 29, which extends into ing wheels 17, :springs'. 18 and brakes "or the cab 6 and permits'ofthe driver-or-op;

6t braking mechanism 19. The chassis orerator within the cab controllihg the brake frame 15 is in close proximity to the ground mechanism of the trailer by virtue of a king and on said frame is a body 20 preferably pin 14 formingpart of the coupling and un- .of less height than the cab 6 on the-tractor couplinglnechanism between the tractor and so that the driver or occupant of the seat the trailer, and-such other devices as may 10 5 may look rearwardly .overthe top of the be essential for'successful operation of the body L20, particularly when backing. The tractor trailer combination. This invention body 20 may befor commercial or pleasure is not directed to such mechanism, because purposes equipped with one or more; doors. the same are taken care of in my companion At the forward end of the chassis or applicat on, but more particularly to the frame 15 is an axle 21 provided with constructive arrangement of parts which ground engaging. h ls 22, adapted to co permits of the trailer bodybeing contiguoperate with the wheels 17 of the rear axle ous to the tractor seat; the coupling and unassembly in supporting the chassis or-frame coupling mechanism being locatedunder the 15 so that it may be moved about independsuperposed. frame 4, and the trailer used 2' ent of the tractor, and when the forward -witho'ut an adjustable'fsupporting leg or end of 'the trailer is supported by the rear support. With the raised coupling portion end of the tractor, the ground engaging 23 providing clearance for the rear end of wheels. 22 are elevated .relative to the the tractor, it is appar t at ery h rt ground, as will hereinafter appear; The turns are possible; that the coupling and forward end of the frame or chassis 15-'has uncoupling mechanism is more orless proa raised and forwardly extendin coupling tected agalnst the elements; that for bus orr portion 23 about which the-b0 y 20- may passenger service the tractor operator can be built, especially when the body is 'of' observe trailer conditions, and that by virgreater width than the frame/or chassis, as tue of the low body loading and unloading I i 30 indicated by dot "and'da'sh lines in Fig. 2. v

The raised coupling'portion 23 is normally frelghti e in a plane above the frame or chassis 15 and extends forwardly from the body 20 4, showing a slight modification of my-'in so that it may enter the pocket or runway vention, wherein the trailer is in the form 7 of the tractor. 0n the forward end of of 'a low slung or supported bus body 30 of the raised coupling portion 23 of the frame large seating capacity including seats 31 at wilLbe greatly; facilitated for any kind of Reference will now 'be had to Figs. 3 and. I

'l5 'are' a set of bearings 2 L each provided the forward rounded end 32 of the bus body, witha main track engaging wheel 25 and and this end'of thebody' is undercut or an auxiliary track engaging wheel 26, .the shaped, as at 33, to be supptrted by the up- I wheels 26"being set in a plane forward and Wardly and forwardly extending coupling above the axial plane of the wheels 25,- so portion 34 of a trailer ."chassis frame 35..

that the wheels 26 will encounter the rails The for end of i Chassis-frame h 8 of the track in advance of the main wheels truckor groun e g g ng Wh el dapt d 5 25and cause the forward end of the trailer to be elevated off of the ground. when the 4 to be elevated as the tractor is backed under c r. is 0 P $0 h tr i rthe trailer. -Themain wheels 25 are e ventu The trac r, as in the preferred form of allybrjought on to the rails 8 and render the construction, includes a rearwardly overauxiliary wheels inactive, such taking place hanging body 37, a platform 38 and a rear- ,as the tractor backs under the trailer. Two wardly inclined track 39. On the forward sets of wheels accomplish the transfer ofend 3 f h fi l' frame 35 ebearings the trailer from the ground to the .tractor, 01 brackets. 40 supporting a" plurality of .and it is obvious that additional wheel sets wheels, preferably two sets 41and 42 coror "the equivalent thereof may be used .to responding to the wheels 25 and 26 previousattain a gradual and safe elevation of the ly referred/to. The .set of. wheels 41v is end of theQtrailer. On the forward end of adapted to'engage the track 39 and initially the raised coupling portion 23 is a socket" elevate the ground engagin wheels 36 as coupling-member 27 which receives the ball the tractor is backed under t e forward end coupling member 13 and establishes ajconof the trailer, and eventually the wheels 42 nection between the tractor and trailer for engage the track 39 ride'upwardly on to" movement in synchronism, but permits of v the platform 38, an .supportthe forward these two vehicles being separatedand independently used. with the wheels 41 elevated above the plat v The trailer frame or chassis 15 includes a form 38. For the sake of clearness the coup- .brake operatlng mechanism, generally desling, uncoupling and brake mechanism has. ignated 28, employed to operate or apply not been illustrated intliese two views, but

end 34 of the frame 35 under the body .37, I

it is to be understood that such mechanisms are employed or the equivalent thereof.

I do not care to confine my invention toupon the size and style of the trailer body,

and while in the drawings there are illustrated the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that the structural elements are susceptible to such changes as fall within the scope of the appended claims. V

What I claim is 1. In a tractor trailer combination, wherein the tractor and trailer are coupled for combined service and disengageable by uncoupling to permit independent service, and wherein the coupling and uncoupling operations are rendered active by relative movement of the tractor and trailer in the direction of traction,-. a tractor having a seat,

a trailer adapted to have its forward end extend under the seat of said tractor, and.

means adapted to couple the forward end of the trailer to the tractor by such relative movement of the tractor and trailer.

2. A tractor-trailer combination as in claim 1, characterized in that the body of the trailer extends on opposite sides of the.

ment of the tractor and trailer in the direction of traction, a tractor having a cab, a trailer having a portion extending under the tractor cab and engageable and disengageable with said tractor by such relative movement of the tractor and trailer, the

control station for the engaging and disengaging manipulations being located within the cab.

4. A tractor' trailer combination as called for in claim- 3, wherein the trailer has a brake mechanism operatable from within the tractor cab.

, 5. The combination of a tractor having a 'seat and a track, a trailer having track env gagement with the tractor.

6. The combination called for in claim 5, wherein the trailer has ground engaging wheels in addition to the track engaging wheels.

7. In tractor-trailer combinations, wherein the tractor and trailer are coupled together for combined service and disengageableby uncoupling to permit independent service, and wherein the coupling and uncoupling operations are rendered active by relative movement of the tractor and trailer in "the direction of traction, a trailer having a body portion extending below the coup-. ling plane and a coupling portion adapted to be moved in the coupling plane during the coupling operation, and a tractor having a pocket to receive the coupling portion when in the coupling plane, the upper wall of the pocket overlying such coupling. portion when the tractor and trailer are coupled, the

control station of the tractor being located wholly above the plane of the pocket.

8. A combination as in claim 7 characterised in that the coupling portion of the trailer extends into the trailer body portion.

9. In a tractor trailer combination, whereinthe tractor and trailer are coupled for combined service and disengageable by uncoupling to permit independent service, and wherein the coupling and uncoupling operations are rendered active by relative move ment of the tractor and. trailer in the direction of traction, a tractor, a trailer, a cab on the tractor, a body, on the trailer close to said cab, and means under said cab coupling the tractor and trailer by such relative movement of the tractor and trailer.

10. The combination of a tractor having a chassis, a trailer having a body with its bottom in a plane lower than the plane of the tractor chassis, and means extending forwardly from said trailer adapted for coupling". said trailer to said tractor, said forwardly-exten'ding means bein positioned above the plane of the chassis w en the trac-- tor and trailer are coupled, the control station of the tractor being located wholly above the top plane of said means.

11.'A tractor trailer combination having occupant-receiving bodies close together,

and the trailer having a coupling portion extending on to the tractor 'above the top plane of the tractor chassis and under the tractor body and establishing an operative connection between said tractor-land trailer. 12. A tractor trailer combination'as called for in claim 11, wherein the coupling portion of the trailer is a continuation of the lower body supporting'frame of the trailer. 13. In tractor-trailer combinations, where in the tractor and trailer are coupled together for combined'service and disengageable by uncoupling to permit independent service, a tractor having a chassis carrying coupling mechanism and means for defining a coupling plane above the chassis, a trailer having a forwardly-extending portion carrying coupling mechanism adapted to cooperate with the tractor coupling mechanism in such coupling plane by relative movement of tractor and trailer in the direction of traction, and a"'cofitrol station carried by the tractor, said station being v 6 located wholly above the top plane'of the trailer forwardly-extending portion.

14. A combination as in clai m 13 char- Iacterized in that the control station extends on opposite sides of a vertical plane correspending to the plane'o'f thecoupling axis- 10 when the tractor and trailer are coupled.

In testimony whereof I aflix'my signature.

SIDNEY B. WIN N: 

